Outlet box



1931- F. E. GILMORE 1,818,317

OUTLET BOX Filed July 31, 1929 Hm/wr E'. 5/4 MERE In ventor Attorney tured with the outlet box Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK E. GILMORE, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 CHARLES H. FANCHER, JR, 0]? SPOKANE, WASHINGTON OUTLET BOX My present invention relates to improvements in outlet boxes used in electric housewiring, and installed in building walls for switches, connections, etc. In carrying out my invention it is applicable for use in standard t pes of outlet boxes already in use, or the elements or features forming the essential part of my invention may be manufacas it is placed on the market. Well known types of outlet boxes are now utilized in plaster walls of buildings, but these boxes are not adapted for use with Walls that are made up of wall boards, plaster boards, and similar building elements. The device of my invention, as an attachment, is designedfor use with these outlet boxes, and by the use of my invention such boxes are converted for use with wall boards in lieu of plaster walls.

The invention contemplates the fastening means of the duplex type, that is, two pairs,

of jaws are attached to the box and means are utilized for clamping the pairs of jaws on the wall board, the latter being cut out to accommodate the outlet box, and of course the box is so situated that the finishing plate for the box covers all other parts of the device, except the switch buttons.

Theinvention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed. In the accompanying drawings T have illustrated an outlet box equipped with the devices of my invention, in which the parts are combined and arranged according to one mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. Such changes and alterations as are necessary for other adaptations to and equipment of outlet boxes, may be made in the exemplified structure, within the scope of my claims without departing from the principles of my invention.

Figure l is a perspective View of a well known type of metal outlet box, now in use, with which my invention is utilized when converting this box for use with a wall board instead of in a plaster wall.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the box equipped with the fastening devices or clamps of my invention, the parts being in position for fastening in the wall board.

Figure 3 is a side View of the outlet box showing it attached to the wall board or wall boards.

Figures 4. and 5 are perspective views of the two jaws in a clamp.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the clamp bolt or screw with its nut.

Figure 7 is a plan View of a partially formed blank for one of the jaws.

The box 1 is of usual shape and material, and is formed with attaching ears or lugs 2 that are struck up from the material, as sheet metal, and perforated. Two of these perforated lugs are used by me, and designated as 2, one at the top edge and the other at the bottom edge of the box, to accommodate the screws S of the finishing plate P in Figure 3.

The walls of the box are also perforated to form screw holes as 3 and 4 that are arranged in pairs in the bottom and top walls of the box, as well as in other parts thereof, but these pairs of holes are utilized by me in carrying out my invention. The usual partially stamped or pressed openings 5 are also provided in the walls of the box, the disks being knocked out as required for use.

I use a clamping device at the top of the box and one at the bottom of the box, such devices as a whole being indicated by the numerals 6 and 7, and inasmuch as they are of duplicate and interchangeable constructions, the description of one will sufice for both.

Each clamp includes an attaching plate 8 that is formed with an angular, stationary jaw 9 having corner prongs 10 to impinge against the face of the wall boards WV and B designated in Figure 3. The attaching plates are disposed transversely of the box and lie against the top and bottom faces of the box, screw holes 11 being arranged in these plates for the screws 12. The screws 12 pass through the holes 11 and are threaded into the pairs of holes 3 and i of the box, to rigidly hold the outer or front jaw of the clamp against the outer face of the board, and these lates are approximately the width of the The front, fixed jaw of each clamp has a rear hinged jaw that is fashioned with hinge sleeves 16 spaced apart to fit around the two trunnions 14 of the fixed jaw, and these rear jaws are adapted to be drawn flat against the rear facesv of the wall boards W and B, said jaws having corner prongs 17, similarto the prongs 10, to impinge against or be embedded in the rear faces-of the wall boards. The free edges of these hinged jaws are notched at 18 to clear the wiring that enters the box, and a slot 19 is cutout of the hinged jaw,.as shown in Figure 4-, with a pair of spaced bushings 20'curled or rolled at the sides of the notch, or slot 19. i

A clamp bolt or screw 21 is carried by the hinged jaw, but when put into use, this bolt is passed through a hole 22 fashioned in a countersink 23 of the fixed jaw.

The bolt is adapted to co-act with a nut 24 that is held in a holder 25, and the holder is swiveled by means of oppositely extending pins 26 fashioned integral with the holder and rolled from the metal thereof. The bolder also has a pair of overhanging flanges 27 for the nut to retain it in place while the screw or bolt 21 is being turned.

From this description, taken with the drawings, it will be ap arent that the hinged jaw is swung inwar y and upwardly, or downwardly, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3, as the box is inserted in the wall opening, then the bolt 21 is turned in the countersunk hole 22 and in the swiveled nut '24, the hole 22 being mit this mani ulation of the bolt; by turning the bolt, t e nut and the hinged aware drawn toward the front of the box to position in Figure 3.

By turnin home the boltthe hinged jaw is drawn tig t against the inner face of the wall board and t e prongs on both jaws iminge against the face of the wall board. The ard is thus rigidly clamped between the jaws and the box is securely anchored in the wall opening. The head of the bolt as shown is located in the countersink 23 of the fixed 'aw, and the finishing plate P may be secured 'what I c aim as new y its screws S to cover the entire device.

Havin thus fully described my invention, and desire to secureby Letters Patent is of suflicient size to per-' of a clamp device comprising a fixed jaw mounted on the box, an inner jaw hinged to the fixed jaw, a bolt passing throu h both jaws and a nut mounted in the hinge jaw.

3. The combination with a fixed jaw having an attaching plate, of a hinged jaw mounted on the plate, a nut swiveled in the hinged jaw, and a bolt passing through an opznlng of the fixed jaw and engaging said nu v 4. The combination with an outlet box of a 'aw having an attaching plate fixed to the ox of a jaw hinged to the plate, a nut-holder swiveled in the hinged jaw and a nut in the holder, and a bolt passed through an opening in the fixed jaw and engaging the nut of the hinged plate or jaw.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK E. GILMORE; 

